Fishing-reel.



A. F. MEISSELBAGH (5; P. GATUGGI.

FISHING REEL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1907.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WI-TN ELSJEJ MA A. F. MEISSELBAGH & P. CATUGOL' FISHING REEL.

APPLICATION mum JULY 31, 1907.

929,867. Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

mvrnf'oxa nisirsn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST F. MEISSELBACH AND PLINY CATUCCI, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY,ASSIGNORS TO A. F. MEISSELBACH & BROTHER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FISHING-REEL.

No. ecaeer.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

. Application filed July 81, 1907. Serial No. 386,496.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that we, AUeUs'r F.'ME1ssEL- EACH and PLINY OArucoI,citizens of the United States, residing in the city of Newark, in thecounty of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fishing-Reels; and we do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to makeand use the same. In a fishing reel of the type to which our invention.relates, it is desirable to have mechanism of a character which willreadily permit the spool to be disconnected from the driving gear, so asto allow of the free paying off of the fish line wound thereon, and yetto positively connect such gear with the s 001 upon the ositive rotationof the cran or handle. t is also desirable, ,when the s 001 is freelyrunning that there should be little or no friction to retard or checkthe free rotation of the spool, and also that the driving gears shallalways be in mesh and ready for 0 eration upon the slightest movement oft e handle and also to avoid the stripping of the gears when thrown inoperation. The mechanism must also be of such a character as to bereadily taken apart for cleaning, oiling and ins ection. Reels of thischaracter must also e practically noiseless. In the mechanismhereinafter described, We have accomplished all of these objects androvide a structure of a nature requiring little or no attention inoperation, very eas of manipulation and yet not liable todisarrangement.

In the accompanyin drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a hoe plate of areel showing a part of the gear case in cross-section. Fig. 2 is avertical section of the same. Fig.

3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detached view of the reel gears with the clutch inoperative.Fi 5 is an inner plan view of the'reel head p ate showing the bridgesupport for the large gear.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form in which the clutch mechanism istransferred to the s 001 head. Fi 7 is a vertical'section of themechanismi ustrated in Fig. 6, showing all of the'gears in position.Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 88 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detachedplan view of'the clutch. case with the clutch inoperative. Fig. 10illustrates a modified form of spool head, and Fig. 11 illustrates afurther modification of the clutch case, as applied to the head of thespool, and Figs. 12, 13 and 14 illustrate furt or modified forms ofclutch mechanism.

Similar numerals of reference refer to like parts throughout thespecification and drawin s.

iii illustrating our improved reel, we have only shown such parts ascontainour improvements as applied to any ordinary reel, in which-- 1 isthe head plate of disk form, held to the frame 2 by means of the flan edhead ring 3. 'l he head pistol is provide with a drawn boss 4 to form acavity in the head plate for the reception of the improved mechanism.

We also provide in the boss 4 a journal bearing 5 for the pivot 6 of thespool spindle 7, the spool 8- being of any usual or ordinaryconstruction. The spindle 7' carries the small pinion 8 which is at alltimes in mesh with the driving gear 9, such driving gear being looselymounted on the bushing 10; The hollow boss 4 opens inwardly to the spacebetween the spool head 11 and the head plate 1, and spanning the cavitwithin the boss 4 is the bridge piece 12 whic carries the centralbearing 13 riveted to said bridge 12 as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Thebearing 13 carries the sleeve shaft 14 which has at its inner end, thecam shaped clutch member 15, said clutch member resting in the cavity 16in the inner face of the gear 9. At the outer end of the sleeve shaft 14is secured the handle 17 At the outer end of the bushing 10, we proheldin the head of the boss 4 by means of the screw 20. Between the lobes ofthe clutch member 15 and the wall of the cavity 16, are the two clutchmembers 21 and 22, pivoted to the bushing 10. The outer face of the twoclutch members 21 and 22 are curved and when in action, ,hearsubstantially throughout their length upon the wall of the cavity 16 asclearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

In 0 eration, when the, spool 8 upon which the tie line is wound isrotated in a direction to pay bit the line, as indicatedfby the arrows23, the gear 9 will be rotated in a direction indicated by the arrow 24,in which case, the

'tWo clutch members 21 and 22, pressure having been removed therefrom,will permit the gear wheel 9 to revolve freely. However, upon a veryslight movement of the handle 17 in the direction of the arrow 25, theclutch member will take the position illustrated in Fig- 3, therebyforcing the clutch members 21 and 22 against the inner the spool 8 andwith it the pinion 8, as

clearly shown by arrows in Fig. 4, thereby releasing the gear 9 frompositive connection with the handle 17 through the sleeve shaft 14. Inthis manner, it will be seen that we have provided a free running spoolso long as no pressure is applied to the handle 17 in the direction ofthe arrow 25', while the slightest movement of the handle in thedirection of the arrow 25 will serve to engage the clutch members andstop the running out of the line, while further movement in the samedirection will wind in the line.

In l'igs. 7, 8 and 9, we have shown our invention as applied to thespool head. In this form, the gear 26 and the handle 17, together withthe head 1, are all of the usual and secured in the usual manner bymeans of the bridge 12. Instead, however,

. of securing the pinion 8 rigidly upon the reel spindle 7, we changethe construction and provide a sleeved pinion 27 in mesh with the gear26, said pinion being mounted loosely upon the reduced end 28 of thespindle 7, the

wet end 6 of thespindle 7 being received into a bearing 29, whichissecured to the head plate 1. ,The sleeve 30 of the pinion 27 1selongated with the clutch member 31 se cured upon its inner end in anyconvenient or desired manner. Between the clutch member 31, and thepinion 27, we mount loosely, the sleeved clutch carrying member 32, asclearly shown in Fig. 9. Upon the inner face of the member 32 we pivotthe clutch members 33 and 34, in substantially the same relativepositionas heretofore described in connection with the clutch members 21and 22, but inasmuch as the direction of motion of the parts to whichthe clutch member 31 is connected is reversed, these clutch members 33and 34, as well as the cam member 31 are oppositely directed. Upon theouter face 0 the spool head 35, we provide the annular flange 36 forcooperation with the clutch members 33 and 34. The clutch carrylngmember 32 is provided with a groove 37, Which takes therein the looped s)ring 38, the loop thereof receiving the stud 39 pro- 'ecting inwardlyfrom the head plate 1, so as to limit the rotation of the spring 38. Inorder to provide a convenient means for retaining the parts in )osition,the outer surface of the annular ange 36 is threaded to receive theinternally threaded flanged thimble 4,0, the flange of which overlaps aflange 41 upon the inner end of the clutch'carrying member 32. Inoperation, the running out of the fish line from the spool 8 will causethe rotation of the annular flange 36 in the direction of the arrow 42,the two clutch members 33 and 34 are released from the clutch member 31,in which case, the spool 8 with its spindle 7 revolves freely Within thesleeve 30 of the pinion 27 and the driving parts are quiescent. A slightmovement, however, of the handle, which. in this type of reel isconnected to the gear 26, will cause a rotation of the pinion 27, in thedirection of the arrow 43, shown in rigs. 7 and S, but this retation ofthe pinion 27 will cause the clutch member 31 to rotate in the directionof the arrow 44 and the lobed ends of such clutch member 31 will bearupon the clutch members 33 and 34, thereby forcing them outwardlyagainst the internal face of the flange 36 and thus rigidly connect thepinion 27 to the spool 8. The rotation of the pinion 27 would underordinary circumstances, carry with it the clutch carrying mechanismbecause of the friction between the parts and there wouldbe n'o gri pingof the clutch members 33 and 34 wit the interior face of the flange 36.If, however, a slight drag or retardation of the clutch carrying member32 is afforded, a relative movement is provided for'between the clutchmember 31 and the clutch members 33 and 34, which is sufficient to causesuch clutch members 33 and 34 to engage the interior face of the flange36. This drag upon the clutch carrying member 32 is afforded bythelooped spring 38 carried in the grooves 37 and held from rotation bymeans of the stud 39.

In Fig. 10, we have illustrated a slight modification of the spool head,so as to permit of the arrangement of the parts forming the clutchmechanism in more compact form. In this case, the spool shank 45 isrigi: ily secured to the spindle 7 as is the usual custom. The end ofthe spool shank, however, is enlarged as at 46 and projects toward thehead plate to form the cylindrical cavity 47, which receives the clutchmembers 33 and 34, and the clutch carrying member 32; the pinion 27 andthe other parts being substantially as described in connection with Fig.9. The parts in this case are held in position by means of the splitspring ring 48, which is beveled upon its outer face to'be received intothe undercut annular cavity 49. When in position, the split ring 48overlaps the flange 41 upon the inner end of the clutch carrying member312. The operation of this form is substantially the same as heretoforedescribed in connection with the modification illustrated in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 11, we have shown a still further slight modification, theclutch mechanism and gear parts being identical with that illustrated inFigs. 9 and 10, the only difference in the construction residing in thespool head 11; which in this case, is provided with. an inwardlyextending boss 50, which is secured in the usual manner to the spoolshank 51. The inner cylindrical wall of the boss 50 is screw threaded asat 52 to receive the flanged externally threaded thimble 53, theflange-oi such thimble overlapping the flange 41 upon the inner end ofthe clutch carrying member 32. in this case, we find that thestud-sl1aft13 which carries the gear 26 is lo cated in the rightposition to form a stop for the spring 33, so that we may form a pinprojection 54 upon the inner end of the stud shaft 13, which takes intothe loop of the spring 38, said spring being received by the groove 37and the clutch carrying member 32.

In Figs. 8 and 9, it will be notedthat the clutch members 33 and 34 havetheir ends somewhat extended as at 55, so that when the lobes of theclutch member 31 impinge upon the extensions 55, during the reversemovement, the clutch members 33 and 34 will be positively thrown out ofengagement with the inner surface of the ring 36. in this manner, anydanger of sticking or jamming oi' the parts is obviated.

in order to reduce the bearing eontactbetween the sleeve 30 and thereduced end 28 of the spool spindle 7 to a minimum, we provide aslightly enlarged portion 56 upon the 40 inner end of the reducedportion 28, making the greater portion of the bore of the sleeve 30 ofthe same diameter as the enlargement 56. The forward end, however, ofthe sleeve portion is reduced as at 57 to fit the portion 28 oi thespindle. in this manner, the

sleeve 30 is provided with two separated bearing points upon thespindle, the greater portion of the sleeve being free from the spindleto provide the oil space 58. In this manner, we are able to reduce thefriction between the bearing parts of the modification illustrated inFigs. 7, 10 and 1.1 to the lowest possible limit.

In Fig. 153, we have shown the inner surface of the clutch ring 59 asslightly elliptical, the clutch members 60 and 61, and also thecam-shaped clutch member 62 are of the same general shape and locationas that described in connection with Figs. 4 and 9. In 60 thisconnection, it will be noted that when the cam member 620i the clutch isturned in the position illustrated in Fig. 8, the clutch members 60 and61 will begin to wedge u upon the short diameter of the ring 59,-1nwhich position, the parts will be the driving gear to wind in the line.

positively locked so long as the cam member 62 bears upon the inner faceof the clutch members 60 and 61.. In Fig. 13, the same general form ispreserved, but the clutch ring is provided with the two inwardlyprojecting cusps 63 for the same purposes as described in connectionwith the short diameter of the ring 59 in Fig. 12'

In Fig. 14, we have showna still further modified form in which the cammember 64 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite lobes 65, tobear updn the outer ends of the pivoted clutch members 66 and 67. Theseclutch members 66 and 67 are provided with enlarged apertures 68 whichtake over the pins 69, so that the pivotal connection between themembers 66 and 67 is quite loose upon the pin 69. As a positive bearingpoint between the ring 70 and the members 66 and 67,- we provide theease-hardened steel pins 71, inserted into the inner periphery of thering 7 0, so as to project into the path of the members 66 and 67, whenthe same are projected. In this manner, when the cam 64 is turned withthe lobes 65 thereon into contact with the members 66 and 67 asillustrated in Fig. I l, said members 66 and 67 will positivel engagethe pin 71, and thereby clutch t e two arts positively together.Leverage afl'or ed by the lobes 65 against the outer ends of the members66 and 67 is of such a character, that the said 7 members 66 and 67cannot pass the pin 71 without rupturing somepart of the structure,while when the ring 70 rotates in the opposite direction to carry themembers 66 and 67 awa from the lobes 65, theparts are perfoot y free andshould there be a tendenc for the arts to stick, the projections 72 wi lpositivey engage the rear points 73 of the member 66 and because of theloose pivotal connection, the members 66 and 67 will be positivelydisengaged from the inner periphery of the rin 70. I

.lt will thus e seen that in-all of the modifications which we haveshown, we have provided a clutch mechanism in connection with thedriving gear for the spool, which clutch mechanism is inoperative tocheck the rotation of the s 001 when the fish line is running out andthe andle 17 is released, while at the same time, the slightest movementof the handle in the winding up direction serves to engage the clutchmechanisnnand operate We claim:

1. In a fishing reel, the combination of a spindle having a spoolrigidly mounted thereon andpnormally free-runn ngin one direction, apinion mounted upon the spindle of said spool, a gear wheel engagingsaid pinion, a crank'or handle for driving said gear wheel in onedirection only, an automatic friction clutch inter osed between saidgear wheel and said spoo means connected with 13% rotatably mounted insaid head ing said pinion from said spool to permit the same to runfreely in either direction.

In a fishing reel, the combination of a free running spool, a spindleupon which said spool is rigidly mounted, a pinion loosely mounted uponsaid spindle and automatic friction clutch mechanism between said pinionand said spool to rigidly connect them to rotate together in onedirection and to permit them to rotate independently in oppositedirections.

4t. In a fishing reel, the combination of a reel frame, and a spoolmounted therein, driving gear for rotating said spool in one direction,automatic friction clutch mechanism for positively connecting said spoolwith said gear upon rotation of the driving gear and for releasing saidspool from said gear when said ear is quiescent.

5. In a ishingreel, the combination of a reel frame, a normallyfree-running spindle mounted therein, a spool rigidly mounted upon saidspindle, a pinion sleeved upon the spool spindle, automatic frictionclutch mechanlsm between said pinion and said spool for positivelyconnecting said spool and said pinion during the winding-up operationand to disconnect said spool from said pinion when said pinion isquiescent.

6. In a fishing reel, the combination of a reel frame, a normallyfree-running s 001 mounted therein, a pinion having an elongated sleevethereon loosely mounted upon the spindle of said spool, a clutch memberrigidly secured to the free end of said sleeve, a suitably mountedclutch member located within the path of said first named clutch memberand a ring element upon said spool for cooperation with said last namedclutch member.

7; In a fishing reel, the combination of a reel frame, a head plate,'anda spindle havin a spool rigidly mounted thereon, saicil spoo ate, apinion loosely mounted on said spind e, automatic friction clutchmechanism between said pinion and the head of said spool actuated by therotation of said pinion in one direction to cause the rotation of saidspool in the same direction and to free said pinion from said spool whenthe rotation of said pinion ceases, and the strain on said spoolcontinues.

8. In a fishing reel, the combination of a reel frame, a head plate, anda spool having a spindle rotatably mounted in said head plate, a pinionloosely mounted on said spindle, said pinion being provided with asleeved extension, a clutch member rigidly mounted on said extension, aclutch carrying member loosely mounted on said extension, a pair ofclutch members pivotally mounted on said carrying member for engagementwith said first named clutch member and a clutch ring rigidly connectedwith the head of said spool, whereby the rotation of said pinion willautomatically set said clutch members to rigidly connect said pinion andspool together.

9. In a fishing reel, the combination of a reel frame and a spoolrotatably mounted therein, a clutch ring secured to the head of saidspool, a pair of clutch members mounted adjacent to and normallydisengaged from said ring and means connected with the reel driving gearto cause said clutch members to positively engage said ring.

10. In a fishing reel, the combination of a reel frame and a spoolrotatably mounted therein, a clutch ring having a non-circular clutchface secured to the head of said spool, a pair of pivoted clutch membersmounted for engagement with said non-circular clutch ring face and meansconnected with the reel driving gear to set said clutch members andclutch ring into positive engagement.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rotatablemember, a clutch ring having a non-circular clutch face secured to saidrotatable member, a pair of pivoted clutch members mounted forengagement with'said non-circular clutch ring face and means connectedwith said pivoted clutch members to set the same and the clutch ringinto positive engagement. y

This specification signed and witnessed this 23d day of July 1907. I

. AUGUST F. MEISSELBACH. PL'INY' CATUCCI. Witnesses:

L. M. SANDERS, C. A. ALLIs'roN.

